Background on density, movements, and social structure to develop testable hypothesis for future research on white-tailed deer of QNWR.

Progress and Results

In our study, small grains (winter wheat / rye) are the most common crop within
the predominantly agricultural landscape surrounding Quivira National Wildlife
Refuge. This type of crop was used most frequently by deer, and was preferred by
deer in winter time periods during some years of our study. In addition to winter
wheat, deer used a variety of other crop types including corn, alfalfa, and fallow
fields. Use of corn by white-tailed deer peaked during the summer which is
consistent with observations that deer will consume corn during the summer
(Nixon et al. 1991) and that home ranges may shift closer to corn fields during
the tasseling-silking developmental stage Fallow fields were used by deer most
frequently during the summer (May-August) and were not avoided by deer during any
season. The use of fallow fields by deer during the summer months was unexpected
and to our knowledge has not been documented in other agricultural systems. Since
deer used habitat selectively with respect to agricultural crops, it may be
possible to use existing crop fields on Quivira National Wildlife Refuge as a
means of managing distributions and movement patterns of deer. However, our
results suggest that male deer often completely avoided burned areas for several
weeks following burning and used burned areas of mixed-grass prairie less than
expected in the 4 month time period following prescribed burning during the
spring and late summer. Deer did not strongly avoid burned areas between 4-16
months following spring burning and did not exhibit a consistent pattern of
avoidance or preference for burned areas during this time period. Our results
suggest that fire in mixed-grass prairie may strongly influence patterns of
habitat selection up to 4 months following a prescribed burn that occurs during
the spring or summer.